Archive

A research initiative that focuses on collaborative approaches, leveraging various analog and digital data collection and analysis tools, to mobilize a collective intelligence towards improved mobility conditions in a range of contexts around the world. We work with partners from around MIT and around the world, including: Megacities Logistics Laboratory, Intelligent Transportation Lab, TransitLab, BRT COE, SMART-FM, just to name a few. Learn more here.

In the spring of 2005, an urban planning studio at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's School of Architecture and Planning examined the future of Gaoming. This studio, sponsored by the Esquel Group, is one of a series of domestic and international studios and workshops carried out by MIT's City Design and Development group. These studios investigate current urban planning and city design issues in a dynamic setting. In recent years, these studios have put forward ideas for areas and sites in Boston, Washington D.C., Chile, Singapore, England, and Spain among others.

The events of 9/11 and the continued fear of terrorism have caused the federal government, many cities, and private building owners to rethink issues of public accessibility, open space design and perimeter building protection. Our public realm is changing in major and minor ways through both incremental steps and revolutionary actions. Who is making design decisions about our public space and security? What are the motivations for these changes? What does the new, secure public realm of Boston look like? Susan Silberberg explored the actors, actions, and larger histo

After an unsuccessful bid to become an official Urban Main Street under the Louisiana State Main Street Program, a group of civic-minded area residents formed an ad-hoc steering committee to recruit MIT to help use post-Hurricane Katrina planning momentum to transform this vehicular thoroughfare between four vibrant neighborhoods into a new connector and destination.

Susan Silberberg was awarded a competitive research grant from the Boston Society of Architects to investigate the design and perception of public space post 9/11. Terrorist events have caused many cities and the federal government to rethink issues of public accessibility, open space design and perimeter building protection. This redesign and retrofit of public space to create a secure public realm has prompted responses ranging from organized efforts to identify roles for professionals and win government design contracts, to public outrage at the changes to urban space

The Egleston Square Main Streets organization sought to support the commercial district of this vibrant and diverse community of largely Latino and African-American residents facing major obstacles in growth and livability.

The students explored:

· What this community comprised of over 25% of residents under the age of 16 need to thrive

Historic Boston, Inc. (HBI) is a non-profit that serves as the developer of last resort for endangered Boston historic properties. Cleary and Logan Squares in Hyde Park are part of the organization’s “Historic Neighborhood Centers” programs. HBI partnered with the Hyde Park Main Streets organization to facilitate the creation of a neighborhood preservation and revitalization strategy. HBI and Hyde Park Main Streets sought help in directing resources and efforts in the district.

The City of Jacksonville, in partnership with the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville and Downtown Vision, Inc., sought to use the arts as a real estate development catalyst to revitalize the historic downtown.

The students explored:

· If a downtown of over 20 city-owned vacant buildings and numerous privately-owned structures can be transformed through arts-related redevelopment